Accessory Abductor Pollicis Longus: An Anatomical Case Report

An accessory abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon is present in more than 80% of people, but a separate muscle belly is present in only 20% of people. The present article documented the atypical anatomical variation of APL found during routine dissection. The muscle had three bellies and three tendons with unique bifurcation and attachments in the right upper limb of a 52-year-old male cadaver. The variation of APL is clinically important for surgeons doing flap surgeries, tendon transfer, for surgeons dealing with De Quervain's tenosynovitis, and in any operative procedure involving the forearm and hand. Multiple APL tendons can be regarded as a functional advantage since injured tendons can be compensated by healthy ones. In addition, knowledge of the anatomy of the area is essential for treating this condition surgically by performing a tendon release after conservative treatment has failed.